04-23-2024, 10:52 PM
Captain’s Log - Supplemental. USS Crusader, Captain Aitrus Colso, recording.
Our first mission in the books, and a job well done. There isn’t much more that I could have asked for. Of course, that’s no thanks to the Ferengi, but my crew acted phenomenally, and I wish to thank them all, particularly Lieutenant Ramius and his security team. But I’ll get to that in a moment.
Crusader arrived at Desolatia III-B - a beautiful world, though I didn’t really get much of a chance to sight-see - about a week ago. I don’t know why we were given the mission in particular, but it was a goodwill mission to this independent system. Positioned on the Cardassian border, the foreign office wanted us to check in on them, because evidently they couldn’t do the job themselves. Samantha would get on to me for saying that, but rank hath its privileges.
Anyway, we arrived to a surprise - a large Ferengi freighter in orbit. Desolation, as I said, was independent and lacks much in the way of trade, so we were unsure what the Ferengi were up to. Soon, though, we found out. The Desolatians invited us to a formal reception that was being held, which we gladly attended. Note for command - dress uniforms are terrible and need to be redesigned to something more comfortable. There, we offered up the Federation’s friendship formally once again, which they told us they did not need now that the Ferengi were finishing up their installation.
Installation of what you might ask? A complete set of top-of-the-line planetary defense cannons.
Needless to say, I was shocked and we protested vehemently. Desolatia was near a strategic location on the border, and the primary reason the Cardassians had yet to annex them was that there wasn’t any material gain to be had from doing so, when they could fortify their own system already. By adding these defenses, ironically it would make them a much more tempting target as it would save them the time and effort of fortifying once they were able to claim the planet. Of course, this was ignored - I can’t blame them, but still it was annoying - and since they were independent I couldn’t do much more than lodge a complaint. I did, however, manage to get them to agree to an inspection by our teams to make sure they were operating in good order.
Due to the diplomatic realities as I continued to work towards trade relations, I couldn’t send my FO, Cdr Silran, and so I sent Lieutenant Nathan Ramius instead. With his investigative background and previous dealings with the Ferengi I’d intended to send him anyway, but now I had to send him as the team leader, as well. Newly promoted and new to the realities of being a department head, it was going to be a baptism by fire. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much choice.
From his report, he was given the runaround by the Ferengi foreman, but eventually managed to give them the slip and see what they had been trying to hide: that the weapons were just shells. The Desolatians had been sold Type XVII planetary phaser cannons, but they were nothing more than sheet metal, signal generators, and giant heat sinks, all designed to look good to scanners and hold up to scrutiny until the payments cleared.
Of course, his team had to shoot their way out past the Pakled workers and guards - not easy, but it wasn’t exactly taxing for his team - before they could present their evidence. I would like to say that kicking the Ferengi out of the system was just business, but that would be a lie. It was definitely a pleasure, as well.
We stayed in-system this past week, helping to dismantle the fake weapon emplacements while awaiting a full Corps of Engineers team that the Desolatians requested. They’ll also be building a Federation embassy, and if the ambassador coming with them does his job right there may even be a small outpost opening up soon.
On a personal note, Samantha and I had a lovely evening tonight planetside watching planetset as the gas giant dipped below the horizon, and I would heartily recommend a visit to anyone with the time. End log.
Our first mission in the books, and a job well done. There isn’t much more that I could have asked for. Of course, that’s no thanks to the Ferengi, but my crew acted phenomenally, and I wish to thank them all, particularly Lieutenant Ramius and his security team. But I’ll get to that in a moment.
Crusader arrived at Desolatia III-B - a beautiful world, though I didn’t really get much of a chance to sight-see - about a week ago. I don’t know why we were given the mission in particular, but it was a goodwill mission to this independent system. Positioned on the Cardassian border, the foreign office wanted us to check in on them, because evidently they couldn’t do the job themselves. Samantha would get on to me for saying that, but rank hath its privileges.
Anyway, we arrived to a surprise - a large Ferengi freighter in orbit. Desolation, as I said, was independent and lacks much in the way of trade, so we were unsure what the Ferengi were up to. Soon, though, we found out. The Desolatians invited us to a formal reception that was being held, which we gladly attended. Note for command - dress uniforms are terrible and need to be redesigned to something more comfortable. There, we offered up the Federation’s friendship formally once again, which they told us they did not need now that the Ferengi were finishing up their installation.
Installation of what you might ask? A complete set of top-of-the-line planetary defense cannons.
Needless to say, I was shocked and we protested vehemently. Desolatia was near a strategic location on the border, and the primary reason the Cardassians had yet to annex them was that there wasn’t any material gain to be had from doing so, when they could fortify their own system already. By adding these defenses, ironically it would make them a much more tempting target as it would save them the time and effort of fortifying once they were able to claim the planet. Of course, this was ignored - I can’t blame them, but still it was annoying - and since they were independent I couldn’t do much more than lodge a complaint. I did, however, manage to get them to agree to an inspection by our teams to make sure they were operating in good order.
Due to the diplomatic realities as I continued to work towards trade relations, I couldn’t send my FO, Cdr Silran, and so I sent Lieutenant Nathan Ramius instead. With his investigative background and previous dealings with the Ferengi I’d intended to send him anyway, but now I had to send him as the team leader, as well. Newly promoted and new to the realities of being a department head, it was going to be a baptism by fire. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much choice.
From his report, he was given the runaround by the Ferengi foreman, but eventually managed to give them the slip and see what they had been trying to hide: that the weapons were just shells. The Desolatians had been sold Type XVII planetary phaser cannons, but they were nothing more than sheet metal, signal generators, and giant heat sinks, all designed to look good to scanners and hold up to scrutiny until the payments cleared.
Of course, his team had to shoot their way out past the Pakled workers and guards - not easy, but it wasn’t exactly taxing for his team - before they could present their evidence. I would like to say that kicking the Ferengi out of the system was just business, but that would be a lie. It was definitely a pleasure, as well.
We stayed in-system this past week, helping to dismantle the fake weapon emplacements while awaiting a full Corps of Engineers team that the Desolatians requested. They’ll also be building a Federation embassy, and if the ambassador coming with them does his job right there may even be a small outpost opening up soon.
On a personal note, Samantha and I had a lovely evening tonight planetside watching planetset as the gas giant dipped below the horizon, and I would heartily recommend a visit to anyone with the time. End log.